Monday, July 30, 2012

1
Admit you have an addiction. Understand that you do have an internet addiction, and that there is no use in avoiding the truth.

2
Do you want to stop going online so much? Hmm? Well then stop! You want to stop, right? Constantly remind yourself. There will be times you are in the computer room and hear the sound of the computer. You'll think "Oh, I'll just check my email" But that's how it gets you!! Set a certain time and make a habit of sticking by your rules. It will be hard at first, but then it will get easier over time.

3
Realize that more and more people on the world are becoming addicted to the internet. You are not the only one with this problem, it is becoming more and more common and more and more well known. Do not be embarrassed, find others with the same problem and help each other beat it.

4
Get a hobby or an interest that doesn't involve the internet, video games, TV or computers. Get involved with teams, clubs, sports, church, music, dancing, singing, etc. Go for a run with a friend or get exercise some other way. Go to bed on time and get a good night's rest. Keep up with the local events in your community. There may be talks, film screenings, concerts, local sporting events, and book signings etc. Find some, as long as it is not on the internet, and get involved.

5
Complete your studies. If you are a student then do your homework and study. This is a great thing to do right away when you get home. You will feel great knowing that you did your homework early. Read books or research at the library instead of browsing Wikipedia for information. Teachers would rather have you use a real book than Wikipedia. Study lessons that you learned for the day, whether there's a test the next day or not.

6
Help with meals. Your parents will be happier that you're helping out with dinner or dishes instead of chatting online. Cook or bake something one night for the family. Anything that gets you off the computer for a while will help and increase your confidence that you can stay off even longer.

7
Hang out with friends. Plan a trip to the bowling alley, mall, or ice rink. Get a friend to walk a dog with you for the afternoon. Avoid places that have free internet access such as coffee shops.

8
Plan family nights. Instead of watching TV or doing individual things during dinner time, eat dinner as a family on the table and plan games afterward.

9
Limit your computer time. Make sure not to turn it on too many times a week. If you have a laptop, make sure to put it somewhere that you can remember but not somewhere that you see every day. Try keeping the lid closed when you are not using it; when the computer is not looking at you, you are less likely to use it. If you have a desktop PC, try not to go near it or put something over it like a sheet.

10
Call people instead of sending instant messages. Call a friend and ask them to go outside for at least 3 hours a day. This will distract you from the computer. Also try doing your homework together.

11
Use an alarm clock or timer. Before using your computer decide on a time limit such as 30 minutes. Set the clock or timer and make sure that you get off the computer when the time is up. Alternatively create a shutdown timer shortcut on your desktop (google search "shutdown timer" for tutorials). This can be programmed to shutdown your computer after a predesignated time after it has been activated.

12
Don't eat meals at your computer! Eating at a separate place will help you to not go online.

In what is a first for Australia, Marquee – The Star, Sydney has been designed like no other nightlife venue; with nearly 20,000 square feet of floor space, it features three distinct rooms within the one nightclub which allows it to cater for different music tastes and moods.

Marquee – The Star, Sydney will officially be open to the public tonight, with DJ, songwriter and producer will.i.am, from Black Eyed Peas fame, performing. Also at the DJ decks is rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri.

The two nights of partying signal the beginning of an impressive lineup of acts who will take to the stage in the coming weeks, including internationally renowned DJ Avicii over two dates on Easter weekend – April 7 and 8.

Marquee-The Star, SydneyThe nightclub – the latest component of The Star’s $870 million redevelopment – is located on the entire top tier of The Star’s new Pirrama Road harbourside entrance and has expansive views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.

With a capacity of more than 1,200 people, patrons can transition between three lavish rooms and various music experiences.

The Main Room has a 40-foot LED DJ booth and projection stage and a large dance floor. In contrast, a stylish library-style room offers an intimate lounge experience, complete with a working fireplace. Club-goers will also come across the Boom Box VIP Room, with a separate DJ and state-of-the-art sound system. There is also a chill-out area with unparalleled views of the Sydney skyline.

Furnished with luxurious interiors, the venue will have an exclusive VIP entrance for quick entry from street level.

“The new nightclub is an important part of our redevelopment as we move to fulfill our aim of being Sydney’s ultimate one-stop nightlife and entertainment destination. The last piece of this jigsaw will be the $100 million multipurpose Events Centre which is currently under construction and due for completion in 2013.

“Marquee – The Star, Sydney will have true international stature, thanks to our partnership with the Tao Group which has a proven track record for delivering the ultimate in nightclub experiences,” Mr. Mullin said.

The joint venture with The Star’s parent company, Echo Entertainment, is the group’s first venture outside the United States. Noah Tepperberg, from Tao Group, said:

“Our team is looking forward to bringing the Marquee brand to Sydney while creating a venue with a distinct Sydney style and personality. It’s been great to see The Star unfold into an impressive casino and hotel, and now dining and entertainment complex, and we are excited to work with the talented Australian based team.“

The StarThe Star has recently undergone an $870 million redevelopment and expansion to become a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination. The Star offers more than 20 restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and cafes, a new five star boutique lifestyle hotel called The Darling, a 16 room day spa, a luxury retail collection, and upscale gaming areas.

Part of Echo Entertainment Group, the property currently employs over 4,000 staff across gaming, hospitality and other specialist areas. The redevelopment has created over 700 new jobs, as well as employing more than 1,200 contractors throughout its construction. Attracting visitors to Sydney from around the world, The Star currently injects more than $150 million into local, Australian and international economies across a wide variety of industry sectors.

"Slammed and Dunked," a life-size sculpture of the basketball salvaged from the celebrity's residential trash, was partially inspired by Kardashian's recently failed marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries and the questioned authenticity of their acclaimed nuptials.

"Many people in this country are still very concerned with marital rights - after Kim Kardashian's mockery of marriage, why should anyone take anything she does seriously, anymore?" asks artist XVALA.

The sculpture was created out of a 'recycled resin' formulated from remaining leftover garbage that was also collected from the Kardashians' trash bin. Also, a part of the collection is candid mobile phone self-portraits of the reality star that she took for Twitter and Instagram, which are backed with aluminum, also partially recycled from her personal garbage.

"By deleting everything that reveals who she really is, Kim Kardashian actually reveals her true self," said XVALA, "You can always learn something about someone by looking at their garbage, and Kim produces a lot of garbage."

"I agree with Jon Hamm. Kim Kardashian should refrain from making any more reality shows," said Cory Allen. "People aren't too entertained by divorce and failed relationships in these economically trying times."

Dumpster diving is nothing new to the artist or the mainstream media. Late last year, XVALA invaded the residential dumpsters of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Steve Jobs, who passed away a day after the release of his personal trash. XVALA was also responsible for reconstructing celebrity Scarlett Johansson's nude photos for his "Fear Google" campaign, posting the two hacked images all through the streets in and around the Los Angeles area as street art.

"The Kim Kardashian Party," curated by The Site Unscene, will be held on March 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif., on 1460 Naud Street, at the location's roof top.

For more info, contact Cory Allen at 323-393-3115 or visit www.cacanet.com .

No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

* PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0313-xvalakk_300dpi.jpg

* Image caption: "Slammed and Dunked" by XVALA.

Media Contact:Cory Alleninfo@cacanet.com323-393-3115

This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com

Saturday, February 04, 2012

And now, thanks to Boing, Boing, Gizmodo, Engadget and other sites with global audiences, Culkin's Arduino comic has garnered well over a million hits.

In the open-source spirit of making technology accessible to as many people as possible, and reflecting BMCC's mission to make the STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—majors accessible to underserved students, Culkin's comics hit a much-needed chord.

"I think comics are a fascinating way to get information across to students," she says. "And for students who are more visual learners, comics can be a really useful tool."

In June she led a workshop, "Instructional Comics: Comics That Explain Technology," at ITP Camp 2011, a conference sponsored by the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, where she earned an MPS degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Department, following a Bachelor's in Visual Studies, from Harvard.

An artist as well as a professor, Culkin's photography, sculpture and new media works have been featured at museums and galleries throughout the U.S., as well as in Italy, Germany, Cuba and England. Her many awards include an Artists Fellowship in Sculpture from the NY Foundation on the Arts, a sponsored-project grant from the NY State Council on the Arts, a Design Award from the NYC Dept. of Transportation, and a research fellowship from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Department.

The good news is, she's passing her success forward, bringing community college students into technology, art and computer science, explaining both theory and mechanics, through hands-on projects, hard work—and comics.

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) of the City University of New York (CUNY) enrolls over 24,000 degree-seeking and 10,000 Continuing Ed. students a year, awarding Associate Degrees in 28 fields.

Contact: Barry Rosen212-346-8503brosen@bmcc.cuny.edu

Related LinksBorough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New Yorkhttp://www.bmcc.cuny.edu